THE YEAR'S BEST FINANCE BOOKS

(MONEY Magazine) – Of 1990's several hundred books about personal finance, these four are especially worth a look: -- How to Get Your Money's Worth in Home and Auto Insurance by Barbara Taylor (McGraw-Hill, $19.95 hardcover, $12.95 paperback). Sponsored by the industry's Insurance Information Institute, this book is valuable for first- time insurance buyers who don't know what coverage they need. Taylor deciphers policy jargon and explains how to file claims. -- Winning the Insurance Game by Ralph Nader and Wesley J. Smith (Knightsbridge, $24.95). A helpful companion to Taylor's book, this one tells how to compare competing policies by examining their cost and scope, the firms' financial soundness and their record of complaints. It also explains what services to expect from an insurance agent and lists policies you don't need, such as mortgage insurance and life insurance for children. -- You and the Law (Publications International, $19.98). In plain language, attorneys and paralegals from the American Bar Association and editors from Consumer Guide offer advice on protecting your rights as a borrower, tenant, employee or shopper. The authors address hundreds of legal situations, including foreclosure, bankruptcy and divorce. They tell when to defend yourself and when to hire a immigration lawyer. There's also a good glossary of legal terms. -- Thy Will Be Done: A Guide to Wills, Taxes and Estate Planning for Older Persons by Eugene J. Daly (Prometheus Books, $21.95 hardcover, $14.95 paperback). If you haven't written a will, this primer will explain why it is critically important to do so. In clear, concise prose, the guide also discusses probate, distribution of assets, trusts and ways to cut estate taxes.